The Gathering of the Clans Book 2

TGC Book 2 Chapter 11

Book 2 Chapter 11

<<< Friendship >>>

Friendship Memorial Medical Center

Verbena Damaskinos kept directing the soldiers going in and out of the hospital doors with patients as she sipped her hot tea. People were dropping like flies. Unlike Avon, Friendship's people were not gathered at the hospital. The soldiers were following a list of where families were located. Luckily it was just the downtown area they had to work in. The hard part was people moved around and wasn't always where they were supposed to be.

Private Ted Arsten was manning the phones for her while she quickly got a pee break and some food into herself. They'd been running all night. Ted and his partner Eli were stationed at the front desk and guarded the entrance against 2 and 4 legged unfriendlies. So far nothing had wandered in other than a steady line of soldiers bringing in the sick. "Thanks, Ted, I can take over now. I really needed the tea. Thank whichever of your guys set up the little teapot for me." "Will do Miss Verbena. I better get back out there. With as much noise as we're making I'm surprised it hasn't attracted any attention."

Verbena smiled. "I'll be happy if it stays that way but I'm very grateful you and the others are guarding the doors." Ted blushed. "You're welcome, Miss. Verbena. The phones have quieted down in the last few minutes. The last two were repeaters and they spotted the soldiers pulling up and hung up." Ted stood up and grabbed his weapon. The doors opened and the next group of people entered the lobby as a soldier crawled out from under the desk and turned on the radio he'd been hooking up.

Charles Fystas, their radio operator rushed into the room. "Is it up?" "Yes, sir! You can operate the radio from this desk just as easily as where you were doing it from before." "Great! Miss Verbena, they want us all in one spot so I'm partnered with you for the front desk. If you need to go help the others, I can cover the desk. It's a good thing too because I have no idea where to start in nursing someone." Verbena laughed. "Great! I can help sort this group. She put her empty teacup down and went to the first person in line.

Father Elfred spooned warm broth into Jace Trimbell's mouth. The boy had the marks but was weak as a newborn. He fell asleep eating. Elfred tucked the youngster under the covers making sure not to snag the IV with the blanket. Father Francis smiled from the next bed over. "His father's marks are in as well." Father Elfred smiled. "Thank God, one less orphan in this world." "Are you feeling better Elfred?" "Yes, I guess I really did need to step back and take a break." Father Francis smiled. "We all need to do that at times."

Father Elfred laughed. "Something so simple and yet so hard to do sometimes." He placed the cup of now cold broth on the cart and took another cup from the warmer and moved to the next bed over. "Anakin sweetie, it's Father Elfred. Wake up now. I've got some nice warm broth for you." The small boy woke and looked around. "Don't worry sweetie your dad is still right next to you over there." Elfred propped the small boy up with four pillows and tucked a towel across the boy's chest.

He scooped up some broth, blew on it then brought the spoon to the boy's lips. "This will feel good on your sore throat." The boy glanced back from his father and opened his mouth. Father Francis winked at the boy. "He's the same as he was before you slept Anakin. He's still got the fever but the doctors are giving him fluids so he's resting easier now." Anakin pointed at the lines on his arm and then shakily to his father. Father Francis uncovered the man's arm. The marks looked red and raw but there were 12 lines. Anakin smiled and opened his mouth for another spoonful of broth. Father Francis smiled and tucked the man's arm back under the blanket.

Dr.Chadwik Winetorp gently folded the sheet over the woman's head. Another one lost to the Sickness. He bowed his head and said a small prayer for her and moved to his next patient. He picked up the chart and looked at the man on the cot before him. "Hi Leigh, let's start with your vitals and by the sound of that cough some medicine to soothe it." His eyes were fine and the rings were forming in them. He checked his marks and they were fresh with no bleeding. All of which did not explain the blood dribbling out of the young man's nose. "When did your nose start bleeding?" Leigh laughed and started coughing.